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Review

4.5 stars

Book #5 of the Cake series, and we’re back with the McKallister clan and a second-chance romance for big brother, Keith and his long-time girlfriend, Samantha.

Fans of the series will already know a little bit about Keith and Samantha’s story – they were a committed couple who were together for years, to the point where Samantha is a much loved part of the extended family. Then all of a sudden they were no longer together, but in the last book of the series, we saw them share a spark when they were reunited at Keith’s younger brother’s wedding.

I’m a sucker for a second-chance-romance, and was so excited when I realised that Keith’s story would be his second chance with Samantha. And J. Bengtsson takes us back to where it all started, as we go back to high school to see the beginning of Keith and Samantha’s story, following them through the years, showing us all of the ups and downs, and their gloriously emotional reunion. I loved getting to know these two on such a deep level, and loved every moment of their twisted, unexpected story.

Though Keith has been raised in a house where he is loved and cherished, he feels ‘less than’ his talented siblings. In a desperate attempt to fit in at school, he falls in with the stoners in middle school, and by the time he’s a senior in high school, he is not only a complete slacker stoner, but he’s also a dealer for the entire school. He enjoys the popularity and easy lifestyle that comes from it, but deep down he knows he’s making bad choices, and he knows he’s disappointing his family. He’s a good kid with a big heart, he’s just gotten himself into a bad situation, and doesn’t know how to pull himself out of the spiral. And then along comes quiet, nerdy good girl, Samantha – somebody who is hiding her own horrific secrets, and is working hard to escape her life and get a fresh start.

An unlikely friendship blossoms between the pair. Keith is a bit of a goofball, and his charisma and light-hearted playfulness draws Samantha in. And she actually listens to him, she treats him like a person, not like a screw-up, or somebody that is only good for what he can get for her. They spend time together, they genuinely care for each other, and before too long they effortlessly fall into a sweet, and beautifully emotional relationship.

I loved watching these two fall in love. The joking, banter and playfulness is so much fun, but there’s a deeper connection there which is beautiful to see. They help each other so much, becoming a crucial part of each other’s developments as they give each other strength and bring huge, positive change to each other’s lives. But life brings them some pretty huge hurdles.

Keith and Samantha’s story is a bit of a rollercoaster and is full of surprises. My heart ached for them and all they go through, and I loved the character growth that we see for both of them. But at the heart of their story is a fierce love that captured both of their hearts and just won’t let go. They belong together, they just have a rocky road to get there, and though they make mistakes along the way, and I wish we could have seen more of their time together, I was with them through every moment of their journey.

Like the earlier books in the series, the timeline includes the McKallister’s tragic past, and now we get to explore Keith’s side of the story, and see his role in the family’s recovery. I love that we get to see so many different sides to this story, how each family member is personally impacted, and the way it influenced who they grew up to be.

It’s an emotional ride, but the book ends on a great note with an epilogue which gives us a glimpse into the future for the whole family, and provides a bit of a hint for Quinn’s book up next. I am loving this family and these books so much, and can’t wait to continue.

4.5 stars!